How To Survive the First Year of Medical Residency

Communicate with loved ones. Expectations are everything, so it’s important for a first-year resident to communicate with family members from the start about what an 80-hour workweek is going to look like. “Constant communication is paramount,” said Michael Yim, MD, a fifth-year resident at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, “especially during the first few months, as everyone has to adjust to the change in daily lifestyle and overall routines. It is easy for loved ones to feel neglected during residency, so it is important to be cognizant of this fact and to be proactive about showing your commitment to them.”

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Stay positive. Exhausted, swamped by paperwork, or overwhelmed by very sick patients, residents can find it difficult to remember that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. “It’s easy to lose yourself in the daily grind of residency,” said Dr. Yim. “When that happens, just take a step back and remind yourself that you are now part of the best medical specialty around, and all the hard work is truly worth it in the end.”

Renee Bacher is a freelance medical writer based in Louisiana.

Do EHRs Really Save Residents’ Time?

A 2015 study published in the Laryngoscope found that, on clinic days, residents using electronic health records (EHRs) spent a similar amount of time collecting data compared with other means of data collection (2015;125:594–598). The study directly observed eight otolaryngology residents on both clinic days and surgery days from 2009 to 2010, and again from 2012 to 2013. Residents spent the largest portion of their days – 41% – on direct patient care, followed by 35.3% on indirect patient care, 14% on didactic education, 6.9% on personal activities, and 3.1% on transit. On clinic days, residents using EHRs spent significantly more time on indirect patient care, and a large portion of their time was taken up by activities that were of marginal educational value.

Residency Tips from the Pros

“Get advice. Take constructive criticism. When you ask, ‘How do I do this better?’ be a good listener and accept people’s advice.” —Jeffrey M. Bumpous, MD, professor of otolaryngology

“The best residents come in a little humble. You’ve got to work with everybody.” —Mark Wax, MD, professor of otolaryngology

“Some of my closest friends are people I worked with as an intern. It’s another layer of support. —Mas Takashima, MD, professor of otolaryngology

“Be nice to everyone and find the people you want to be like and try to emulate their behavior.” —Joseph McClellan, MD, third-year resident

“Constant communication is paramount. It is easy for loved ones to feel neglected during residency, so … be proactive about showing your commitment to them.” —Michael Yim, MD, fifth-year resident